*  FIRST  REPORT 


or  THE 


BOARD    OF  DIRECTORS, 


OF  THE 


MECHANICS'  INSTITUTE, 


OF  THE 


CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 


OCTOBER,  1831. 


NEW- YORK : 
PRINTED  FOR  THE  INSTITUTE. 


1831. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2014 


ive.org/details/firstreportofboaOOmech 


FIRST  REPORT 


OF  THE 

BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS, 

or  THE 

MECHANICS'  INSTITUTE, 

OT  THE 

CITY  OF  NEW-YORK. 


To  the  Members  of  the  Mechanics'  Institute  of  the 

City  of  New-  York. 


The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  said  Institute,  Respectfidly  Report — 

That  this  Institution  was  established  for  the  purpose  of 
instructing  Mechanics  and  others  in  popular  and  useful  science, 
and  its  application  to  the  arts  and  manufactures,  by  means  of 
lectures,  apparatus,  tnodels  of  machinery,  a  museum  and  a 
library. 

The  attainment  of  objects  so  various,  comprehensive  and 
important,  is  undoubtedly  beyond  the  means  and  facilities  of 
any  individual,  or  indeed  of  any  few  persons,  however  they 
may  be  endowed  with  fortune  and  genius,  and  whatever  may 
be  the  extent  of  their  enterprize  and  activity.  In  order  to 
ensure  success  in  undertakings  of  this  nature,  the  co-operation 
of  a  large  mass  of  information  and  talent,  and  an  extensive 
association  embracing  not  only  the  disposition,  but  the  ability 
to  promote  those  objects,  are  essentially  necessary, — of  both, 
and  all  of  these,  your  Board  flatter  themselves  there  will  be  a© 
want  iu  this  Institution, 


[       4  ] 


Improvement  in  the  mechanic  arts,  and  the  sciences  con- 
nected therewith,  has  always  been  regarded  a  great  desidera- 
tum in  all  civilized  communities,  and  has  excited  the  attention 
of  the  ablest  and  best  men.  In  the  year  1795,  Sir  John 
Sinclair  published  to  the  world,  his  "  Plan  of  an  Agreement, 
among  the  Powers  in  Europe  and  the  United  States  o* 
America,  for  the  purpose  of  rewarding  discoveries  of  general 
benefit  to  society."  These  high  authorities,  on  whom  this 
proposition  was  intended  to  operate,  were  however,  so  much 
engaged  in  settling  those  matters  connected  with  the  destruc- 
tion of  mankind,  that  they  could  find  no  time  for  attention  to 
this  matter,  which  had  for  its  object,  their  benefit.  It  therefore 
behoves  those  individuals,  who  wish  to  leave  the  world  in  a 
better  state  than  they  found  it,  by  a  particular  attention  to, 
and  an  enconragemeut  of  those  arts  and  sciences  to  which 
mankind  owe  their  prosperity,  to  associate  together,  for  the 
purpose  of  diffusing  information  among  themselves  and  thro' 
the  community  in  which  they  live;  and  the  more  particularly 
80,  as  the  funds  appropriated  by  government  for  literary  pur- 
poses, are  applied  to  the  support  of  universities  and  colleges, 
which  although  excellent  in  themselves,  yet  afford  but  littlev  if 
any  assistance,  to  the  mechanics  and  artizans  of  our  country. 
In  making  these  remarks,  this  Board  do  not  wish  to  be  under- 
stood as  complaining  of  the  distribution  of  the  public  monies 
towards  the  support  of  those  literary  institutions,  which  they 
regard  as  valuable  auxiliaries  in  the  diffusion  of  knowledge, 
as  far  as  they  go ;  but  merely  wish  to  call  the  public  notice  to 
the  wants  of  a  class  of  citizens,  who,  they  may  be  allowed  to 
say,  are  not  among  the  least  deserving  objects  of  the  public 
bounty,  and  who  have  it  not  in  their  power  to  avail  themselves 
of  the  advantages  held  out  by  ihe  colleges  and  universities 
now  in  existence. 

Associations  for  the  promotion  of  useful  knowledge,  have 
always  been  found  highly  advantageous  to  the  communities  in 
which  they  have  been  established.  Men  united  together,  and 
frequently  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  advancing  science  and 
the  arts,  may,  and  do  oft  times  suggest  such  hints  to  one 
another,  as  may  be  improved  to  very  important  ends.  While 


[       5  1 

On  this  subject,  the  Board  would  particularly  recommend  to 
the  notice  of  the  Institute,  a  proposition  made  by  an  intelligent 
and  worthy  fellow-member,  which  they  think  deserving  of 
consideration,  and  as  promising,  if  properly  attended  to,  very 
advantageous  results.  It  is  this  :  Inasmuch  as  it  is  frequently 
found  that  many  very  intelligent  men  can  write  much  better 
than  they  can  speak,  and  in  consequence  of  which,  valuable 
ideas  are  frequently  lost  to  the  world,  from  the  want  of  a  power 
of  ready  utterance;  and  are  lost  in  others,  from  a  natural 
timidity  in  addressing  an  assemblage  ;  that  to  avoid  all  these 
difficulties,  and  to  preserve  to  society,  what  may  be  of  great 
utility  :  "  a  book  be  provided  for  the  purpose  of  affording  the 
members  an  opportunity  of  entering  any  remarks  or  sugges- 
tions they  may  wish  to  submit  to  the  consideration  of  the 
Directors  or  the  Society,  and  this  book  to  be  before  the 
Directors  at  every  meeting." 

This  proposition,  as  before  stated,  is  viewed  by  the  Directors 
as  of  the  utmost  importance,  inasmuch  as  it  affords  an  oppor- 
tunity to  men  of  ingenuity  and  modesty,  to  express  their  ideas, 
and  to  give  them  to  the  world  under  the  patronage  of  a 
scientific  association  ;  and  as  it  may  also  be  of  eminent  service 
in  exciting  a  spirit  of  emulation  and  enkindling  those  sparks 
of  genius  which  otherwise  might  forever  be  concealed. 

In  this  age  of  the  world,  it  can  scarcely  be  requisite  to 
adduce  argument  to  prove  the  necessity  and  usefulness  of 
institutions  like  this,  and  their  certainty  of  success  when  pro- 
perly managed.  Eminent  instances  of  their  beneficial  effects 
are  to  be  seen  in  the  French  Academy,  the  Royal  Society,  and 
the  Society  for  the  encouragement  of  Arts,  Manufactures  and 
Commerce  in  London,  and  many  others  of  a  similar  nature  in 
other  parts  of  Europe ;  and  we  are  not  without  instances  in 
our  own  country,  as  will  appear  by  referring  to  the  American 
Philosophical  Society,  the  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  the 
Franklin  Institute  and  several  similar  associations.  And 
even,  to  use  some  remarks  of  the  late  Governor  Clinton,  in 
his  address  delivered  at  Schenectady — without  referring  to  the 
inducements  for  exertion  arising  from  the  successful  enterprizes 
of  our  citizens  at  home,  it  must  be  sufficient  to  animate  you  to 
active  industry,  by  pointing  out  the  harvest  of  profit  and  glory 


[      6  J 


which  has  been  reaped  abroad.  West,  of  Pennsylvania,  has 
delighted  and  astonished  the  world,  by  his  pictorial  perform- 
ances— Murray,  of  New-York,  has  written  the  best  work  on 
English  Grammar — Perkins,  of  Massachusetts,  is  now  pushing 
that  wonderful  invention,  the  Steam  Engine,  to  the  utmost 
verge  of  perfection.  Many  of  our  enterprizing  youth  are  now 
traversing  sea  and  land  in  the  pursuit  of  science — some  are 
seated  in  the  celebrated  schools  of  medicine  and  natural 
science — some  are  in  the  great  cities  examining  the  fabrics  of 
art,  the  machinery  and  processes  of  manufacturing,  the  move- 
ments and  evolutions  of  commerce,  and  the  complex  relations 
of  political  economy — others  are  moving  in  various  directions, 
improving  their  information  in  agriculture,  their  taste  in  the 
fine  arts,  and  adding  to  their  knowledge  of  men  and  things. 

As  soon  as  convenient  after  the  election  of  j'our  Board  of 
Directors,  they  proceeded  to  organize  themselves,  by  the 
adoption  of  rules  and  regulations  for  their  government,  and  by 
dividing  themselves  into  departments  on  the  several  subjects 
of  lectures  and  lecturers,  finance,  and  the  library,  museum  and 
reading-room,  in  order  to  afford  the  greater  facility  in  the 
transaction  of  all  the  business  of  the  Institute,  which  might 
come  before  them  ;  and  during  the  short  period  of  the  existence 
of  this  Institution,  much  has  been  done  to  give  it  a  permanent 
character.  It  is  now  completely  organized  as  to  its  officers 
and  regulations;  and  unless  some  unforseen  event  happens  to 
change  its  prospects,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  it 
will  be  a  powerful  and  useful  Institution,  wielding  an  exten- 
sive and  salutary  influence  over  a  large  and  respectable  por- 
tion of  the  community,  long  after  all  of  us  shall  have  left  this 
stage  of  action. 

Ever  since  the  establishment  of  this  Institute,  it  has  been  a 
verv  desirable  project  to  obtain  some  suitable  and  permanent 
place  for  the  meetings  of  the  association,  and  for  the  delivery 
of  the  contemplated  courses  of  lectures.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  select  a  proper  location,  and  they  on  our  behalf 
petitioned  the  Corporation  of  this  city,  for  the  use  of  some 
room  in  the  public  buildings.  On  this  petition,  a  vote  has 
been  passed  in  the  two  Boards  of  Aldermen,  and  Assistant 


[       7  ] 


Aldermen,  giving  to  this  Institute,  for  the  above  purposes,  the 
use  of  the  rooms  formerly  occupied  by  the  Marine  Court,  in 
the  basement  of  the  City  Hall,  at  the  same  time  regretting 
that  they  had  no  better  apartments  to  ofter  us.  On  the  part 
of  this  Board  of  Directors,  there  is  a  grateful  sense  of  the 
friendly  disposition  manifested  in  this  matter,  by  the  Corpora- 
tion towards  this  Institute;  and  the  Directors  think  that  those 
rooms  can  be  made  to  meet  all  our  present  wants.  They 
would,  however,  suggest  that  we  should  all  bear  in  mind,  that 
if  we  wish  to  be  as  useful  as  we  can  be,  we  must  have  a  building 
of  our  own,  calculated  for  our  own  purposes  :  this  can  never 
be  effected,  without  the  personal  exertions  of  every  individual 
member,  in  soliciting  and  procuring  subscribers  to  the 
Institute. 

The  Directors  have  been  anxious  to  commence  immediately 
the  usefulness  of  this  association,  by  the  establishment  of  a 
popular  course  of  lectures  on  Mechanical  and  Chemical 
Philosophy,  they  deeming  that  to  be  one  of  the  principle 
means,  by  which  the  objects  of  our  Institution  may  be  attained. 
The  matter  having  been  referred  to  the  department  on  lec- 
tures and  lecturers,  they  applied  to  Professor  Steele,  who  is 
advantageously  known  to  us  all  as  an  able  and  learned  lecturer, 
for  information  as  to  the  establishment  of  such  a  course  of 
lectures  and  its  probable  cost. 

The  Professor,  who  was  among  the  first  to  propose  the 
formation  of  this  Institute,  after  stating  in  his  communication 
to  the  Committee,  that  he  was  aware  in  the  present  state  of  the 
Society,  high  prices  could  not  be  given,  and  that  impressed 
with  this  idea,  he  would  endeavor  to  deliver  the  first  course  of 
lectures  at  as  low  a  price  as  possible.  He  then  proposes  that 
the  number  of  lectures  should  be  fifty — one  half  on  Mechan- 
ical Philosophy,  the  other  half  on  Chemical  Philosophy,  he 
to  find  an  operator,  apparatus,  models,  and  materials  for 
experimenting,  and  that  the  Institute  furnish  a  convenient  place 
near  the  lecture-room  for  his  apparatus,  &c,  and  that  the 
price  for  the  course  be  five  hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  either 
by  instalments  or  at  the  end  of  the  course  as  may  be  found 
convenient.  By  a  provision  in  the  constitution^  the  Board 
have  not  the  authority  to  close  this  agreement  with  Professor 


[       8  1 


Steele,  without  submitting  the  same  to  the  Institute,  and 
having  the  same  ratified  by  it.  The  Professor's  knowledge 
and  abilities  require  no  recommendation  from  this  Board — 
but  the  directors  would  say  that  they  view  it  as  some  impor- 
tance to  the  Institute,  that  a  man  of  his  acknowledged  talents 
should  be  employed  as  their  lecturer  ;  very  much  depends  on 
first  appearances,  and  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  many  flourish- 
ing institutions  in  this  and  other  countries  owe  their  success 
to  a  particular  attention  to  this  point — your  Board  would 
therefore  recommend  that  they  be  authorised  by  you  to  engage 
Mr.  Steele,  as  the  lecturer  on  such  terms  and  in  such  manner 
as  they  may  think  proper,  not  exceeding  those  proposed  by 
him  to  the  committee. 

While  speaking  of  the  lectures,  the  Board  would  observe 
that  the  subject  of  "  Mutual  instruction"  has  been  brought 
before  them,  and  in  several  shapes  has  been  made  the  subject 
matter  of  frequent  conversation.  They  now  lay  it  before  the 
Institute  more  with  the  hope  that  its  presence  may  excite 
reflection,  than  with  a  view  to  carry  it  immediately  into  ope- 
ration— the  directors  however  believe  that  as  soon  as  we 
become  permanently  located,  if  the  members  enter  into  this 
matter  with  spirit,  a  great  deal  of  good  will  be  the  result. 
The  proposition  made  to  the  Board  was  "  that  it  should  be 
the  duty  of  the  directors  on  the  discovery  of  talent,  appropri- 
ate to  any  science  or  art,  to  prevail  on  such  persons  to  take 
charge  of  a  small  class  of  such  members  as  present  themselves 
for  such  purpose — the  directors  aiding  such  purpose  by  fur- 
nishing books,  apparatus,  accommodations  for  meeting,  hc.f 
and  that  these  class  exercises  being  rather  of  a  private  nature, 
should  be  under  the  direction  of  its  leader;"  and  also,  "that 
if  practicable,  the  directors  should  organize  different  classes 
in  the  different  branches  of  Natural  Philosophy,  say  Mechanics, 
Electricity,  Pneumatics,  Chemistry,  he.  &£C,  and  that  each  of 
these  classes  shall  be  kept  separate  and  distinct  in  their  appro- 
priate meetings." 

That  these  propositions  are  feasible  in  their  operation,  and 
attended  with  the  most  beneficial  effects  to  those  concerned, 
this  Board  have  the  experience  of  similar  associations  in 


[    9  J 


Europe,  and  indeed  in  our  own  country  to  warrant  them  in 
asserting.    They  will  in  this  instance,  content  themselves  with 
adducing  the  single  case  of  the  mutual  instruction  association 
of  the  Glasgow  Gas  Light  company.    The  following  account 
of  the  organization  and  mode  of  proceeding  by  this  associa- 
tion, is  to  be  found  in  address  to  the  proprietors  of  large  manu- 
factories by  D.  Bannatyne,  Esq. — after  some  introductory 
matter,  he  proceeds — "The  Gas  Light  chartered  company,  of 
this  city  (Glasgow,)  in  which  I  hold  a  very  considerable 
interest,  and  of  whose  committee  of  direction,  I  have  for  some 
years  past  been  a  member;  employs  constantly  between  sixty 
and  seventy  men  in  the  works.    Twelve  of  these  men  are 
mechanics,  and  the  others  furnace  men  and  common  laborers 
of  different  descriptions,  forming,  altogether,  a  community  not 
very  promising  as  a  body  to  be  incited  to  adopt  measures  for 
their  own  intellectual  improvement."    Notwithstanding  all 
these  apparent  disadvantages,  the  association  was  formed,  a 
library  was  collected,  an  atlas  and  pair  of  globes  purchased, 
anda  committee  for  the  management  of  their  concerns  appointed. 
"  The  individuals  of  the  committee  have  come  under  an  agree- 
ment to  give  in  rotation,  a  lecture  either  in  Chemistry  or 
Mechanics  every  Thursday  evening  ;  taking  Murray  for  their 
text  book  in  the  one,  and  Ferguson  in  the  other.    They  inti- 
mate a  fortnight  before  to  the  person  whose  turn  it  is,  that  he 
is  to  lecture  from  such  a  page  to  such  a  page  of  one  of  these 
authors.    He  has,  in  consequence,  these  fourteen  days  to  make 
himself  acquainted  with  his  subject ;  and  he  is  authorized  to 
claim,  during  that  period,  the  assistance  of  every  member  of 
the  society,  in  preparing  the  Chemical  experiments,  or  making 
the  little  models  of  machines  for  illustrating  his  discourse.  It 
is  a  remarkable  circumstance  in  this  unique  process  of  instruc- 
tion, that  there  has  been  no  backwardness  found  on  the  part 
of  any  of  the  individuals  to  undertake  to  lecture  in  his  turn, 
nor  the  slightest  diffidence  exhibited  in  the  execution.    This  I 
can  only  attribute  to  its  being  set  about  without  pretension  or 
affectation  of  knowledge,  and  merely  as  a  means  of  mutual 
improvement.    And  nothing,  I  conceive,  could  have  been 
better  devised  for  accomplishing  this  end.    Indeed  I  might 


[      io  ] 


with  confidence  say,  that  under  this  simple  system  of  mutual 
instruction,  which  has  grown  out  of  the  train  of  circumstances 
above  mentioned,  these  persons,  many  of  whom,  when  they 
joined  the  society,  were  in  a  state  of  complete  ignorance, 
have  acquired  ideas,  and  more  perfect  knowledge  of  the  sub- 
jects which  have  been  brought  under  their  consideration,  than 
would  be  found  to  have  been  attained  by  any  similar  number 
of  students,  who  had  been  attending  the  courses  of  lectures 
given  in  the  usual  way,  by  the  most  approved  lecturers. " 
With  such  experience  before  us,  can  this  system  of  mutual 
instruction  be  for  a  moment  regarded  by  us  as  visionary  ? 

Before  dismissing  the  subject  of  mutual  instruction,  the 
directors  would  remark,  that  the  members  of  the  Franklin 
Institute  in  Philadelphia,  have  found  great  advantage  in  the 
discussion  of  mechanical  and  scientific  questions  at  their 
monthly  meetings.  As  it  is  proposed  to  have  monthly  meet- 
ings of  this  Institute,  the  Board  suggest  that  a  similar  practice 
be  adopted  by  us.  It  might  be  done  in  this  manner.  Any 
member  may  offer  a  question,  mechanical  or  scientific,  to  the 
consideration  of  the  Institute,  if  they  accept  it,  the  President 
shall  declare  it  to  be  the  subject  of  discussion,  at  the  next 
monthly  meeting,  and  during  the  interval,  any  of  the  members 
knowing  the  subject,  may  prepare  themselves  to  take  part  in 
the  debate,  which  will  unquestionably  be  a  very  interesting 
and  a  very  profitable  mode  of  disposing  of  part  of  the  time 
of  our  monthly  meetings,  or  of  any  other  evening  which  may 
be  appropriated  for  that  purpose. 

Another  mode  of  conveying  knowledge  has  also  been  made 
a  subject  of  consideration  by  this  Board,  viz  : — voluntary 
lectures,  on  such  subjects  connected  with  general  science  as  the 
lecturer  may  select.  On  this  subject,  it  may  be  remarked  that 
our  kindred  association,  the  Franklin  Institute,  having  been  at 
their  first  organization  placed  in  a  similar  situation  with  our- 
selves, that  is  to  say,  poor  in  purse,  though  rich  in  spirit,  they 
resorted  to  these  voluntary  lectures  which  resulted  very  much 
to  their  satisfaction,  and  were  very  instrumental  in  placing 
them  on  the  proud  eminence,  which  they  now  occupy  among 
the  Literary  and  Scientific  Institutions,  of  our  country. 


[    11  ] 


Believing  that  there  are  many  distinguished  men  in  the  com- 
munity, who  would  readily  accord  their  assistance  to  an  Insti- 
tution, which  promises  so  much  benefit  to  a  very  important 
class  of  citizens  as  this,  your  Board  respectfully  invite  them 
to  assist  us  in  our  undertaking,  and  in  making  this  appeal  to 
the  voluntary  aid  of  those  gentlemen,  the  Board  feel  confident 
that  it  will  not  be  made  in  vain. 

In  -immediate  connection  'with  our  lectures,  are  the  library 
and  museum.  These  were  justly  considered  of  so  much 
importance  by  the  framers  of  our  constitution,  as  to  induce 
(hem  to  place  an  appeal  to  the  public  ©n  the  face  of  that 
instrument,  in  the  following  language  :  "The  Institute  will 
gratefully  receive  donations  in  money,  books,  apparatus, 
models  of  machinery,  drawings,  or  natural  and  artificial 
curiosities,  which  donations  together  with  the  names  of  the 
donors,  shall  be  registered  in  the  books  of  the  Society,  kept 
for  that  purpose." 

It  is  impossible  for  us  to  make  the  formation  of  a  library 
for  an  institution  of  this  description,  too  important  a  matter. 
Great  exertions  should  be  made  to  procure  a  collection  of 
such  works  as  will  facilitate  our  enquiries  after  knowledge. 
De  Witt  Clinton,  than  whom  no  man  labored  more  for  the 
real  good  of  his  country,  in  speaking  of  the  benefits  to  be 
derived  from  an  attention  to  the  means  of  education,  observed 
that  "  equally  striking  are  the  benefits  of  the  extensive 
libraries,  where  in  the  words  of  the  immortal  Bacon,  the  relics 
of  the  ancient  saints  of  literature,  full  of  true  virtue  and 
without  delusion  or  imposture;  and  the  oblations  and  offer- 
ings of  the  votaries  of  learning  in  other  times  are  preserved/' 
The  consideration  of  this  important  subject,  was  referred  by 
the  Directors  to  their  department  on  the  library  and  museum, 
who  after  due  consideration  of  the  same,  reported  an  address 
to  the  inhabitants  of  the  city.  In  which  they  say  that  "  there 
is  no  truth  more  universally  acknowledged,  nor  one  more 
conclusively  exemplified  by  experience,  than  that  in  the  same 
proportion  as  the  producing  classes  of  a  country  are  intelli- 
gent, in  that  proportion  are  they  virtuous  and  important 
members  of  society.    And  that  experience  has  demonstrated 


12 


that  nothing  more  ^^terially  tends  to  produce  those  beneficial 
effects  than  the  acquisition  of  knowledge  in  the  arts  and 
sciences."  That  in  order  to  attain  this  important  end,  "they 
make  this  appeal  to  their  fellow  citizens  for  the  donation  or 
loan  of  books  to  establish  a  library  for  the  use  and  instruction 
of  those  who  attend  the  lectures  ;"  and  that  they  "  feel  confi- 
dent that  this  appeal  will  be  responded  to  by  the  same  spirit 
of  liberality  which  has  so  amply  contributed  to  the  Mercantile 
and  other  public  libraries  in  this  city." 

The  most  extensive  libraries  now  in  existence,  have  had 
their  origin  in  small  beginnings,  and  not  unfrequently  in  the 
unwearied  exertions  of  one  or  two  public  spirited  individuals. 
The  "Advocates  Library"  in  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  at  this 
time  one  of  the  most  celebrated  and  valuable  libraries  in  the 
world,  was  founded  in  the  17th  century  by  Sir  George 
McKenzie.  Like  other  establishments  of  this  nature,  its  com- 
mencement was  inconsiderable;  its  funds  were  uncertain; 
and  its  progress  in  utility  was  slow.  But  frequent  contribu- 
tions augmented  the  number  of  volumes  ;  and  a  settled  fund 
was,  after  great  exertion,  at  length  established  ;  and  the  result 
has  been  most  triumphant  for  the  cause  of  science  and  litera- 
ture.   Such  instances  should  encourage  us  to  do  likewise. 

Connected  with  most  public  libraries  is  a  reading  room, 
and  it  has  been  agitated  before  this  Board  to  open  a  Reading 
Room  for  the  use  of  our  members.  The  Board  viewing  this 
room  as  a  means  of  inducing  the  members  to  associate 
together  more  frequently  than  they  would  otherwise,  and  thus 
tend  to  the  diffusion  of  information  as  well  by  reading  as  by 
the  interchange  of  ideas,  have  thought  it  a  proper  subject  to 
be  laid  before  the  Institute  for  their  consideration.  The 
proposition  is  to  appropriate  one  room  peculiarly  for  reading, 
and  another  for  conversation.  As  to  the  rules  and  regulations 
requisite  for  the  government  of  those  rooms,  the  Board  think 
they  cannot  do  better  than  offer  to  the  Institute  those  which 
have  be»m  tested  by  experience  in  the  Franklin  Institute  of 
Philadelphia,  which  are  as  follows  :  The  Reading  Room  to  be 
open  daily  from  3  to  10  o'clock,  P.  M.  No  conversation 
permitted  in  the  rcad'ng  room,  but  a  room  appropriated  for 


[       13  ] 


that  purpose.  Members  may  introduce  strangers  to  the 
reading  room  who  have  free  access  for  one  month.  A  book 
k:pt  on  the  table  of  the  reading  room  for  the  registering  of 
donations,  which  is  subject  to  the  inspection  of  the  members. 

The  Directors  have  now  touched  upon  the  principal  objects 
connected  with  this  Institution,  and  the  subjects  to  which  our 
attention  has  been  particularly  directed.  There  is,  however, 
yet  another  subject  to  which  the  Directors  would  call  the 
attention  of  the  Institute  ;  and  that  not  of  the  least  importance, 
as  on  its  flourishing  state,  must  in  a  great  measure,  depend  the 
success  of  all  our  operations,  viz  :  the  financial  concerns  of 
this  Institute.  The  Committee  who  have  the  especial  super- 
vision of  this  branch  in  their  Report  to  this  Board,  under  ihe 
date  of  Sept.  19,  1831,  state  that  there  were  then  112  members 
of  this  Institute  who  paid  their  initiation  fees  amounting  to 
S224  ;  of  this  sum  had  been  expended  by  the  Treasurer  for 
the  expenses  necessarily  incident  to  the  organization  of  this 
association,  the  sum  of  $49  42,  leaving  a  balance  in  the  hands 
of  the  Treasurer  unappropriated,  amounting  to  $174  58,  and 
that  there  was  now  due  the  Institute  from  its  members  for 
semi-annual  dues,  $224,  making  in  all  an  available  sum  of 
$398  58.  That  they  were  of  opinion  that  the  Institute  might 
reasonably  anticipate  an  accession  of  one  hundred  members 
in  a  short  period.  In  relation  to  this  anticipation,  this  Board 
think  their  finance  committee  very  reasonable  in  their  calcu- 
lation. It  is  the  opinion  of  the  Directors  that  with  a  moderate 
degree  of  personal  exertion  on  the  part  of  the  members  of  this 
Institute,  lour  times  that  number  might  be  added  within  the 
space  of  three  months.  By  the  4th  article  of  the  5th  section 
of  the  constitution  of  this  Institute,  it  is  provided  that  "  in  order 
to  make  the  Institution  as  generally  useful  as  possible,  any 
person  shall  be  entitled  to  the  privilege  of  reading  from  the 
library,  and  attending  the  lectures,  or  any  other  course  of 
instruction  that  may  be  given  in  the  Institution,  for  one  year, 
on  paying  such  sum  as  the  Society  shall  determine*"  In  the 
view  of  this  article  the  finance  committee  recommended  that 
the  charge  for  a  course  of  ten  lectures  to  those  adults  who  are 
wot  members  be  $1  50,  and  for  the  same  number  of  lectures 


[       I*  J 


to  apprentices  and  other  minors  §1,  and  for  single  lectures  25 
cents,  and  they  also  reported  that  they  were  of  opinion  that 
the  money  received  for  single  lectures  would  defray  the 
incidental  expenses  of  the  lecture  room,  such  as  lights, 
fires,  he. 

It  has  been  thought  by  some  of  the  members  that  the  sum 
of  §50  to  constitute  a  life  member  is  too  large,  and  that 
we  would  probably  find  it  to  our  advantage  to  reduce  it  one 
half,  say  §25,  which  is  the  amount  required  for  that  purpose 
in  the  Franklin  Institute.  All  will  agree  that  it  is  desirable  to 
have  as  many  life  members  in  our  association  as  possible,  if 
for  no  other  reason  than  that  it  gives  the  Institution  an  addi- 
tional permanency.  With  the  view  of  having  the  matter  fairly 
determined  on,  this  Board  lay  before  this  association  a  copy  of 
the  article  from  the  constitution  of  the  Franklin  Institute  on 
this  subject,  which  is  as  follows  :  "The  payment  of  $25  shall 
constitute  a  member  for  life,  with  an  exemption  from  all  annual 
payments," 

This  Board  feel  as  if  they  could  not  leave  the  general 
subject  matter  of  this  soeiety,  without  reiterating  its  impor- 
tance, and  without  urging  upon  every  individual,  if  he  places 
any  value  on  the  Institution,  the  necessity  of  exertion  to  ensure 
complete  success.  Every  one  should  work  as  if  it  depended 
on  himself  personally,  whether  this  association  sunk  or  rose. 
It  is  a  matter  worthy  of  such  an  exertion  :  a  particular  atten- 
tion to  the  diffusion  of  knowledge,  and  to  the  support  of 
Institutions  of  this  character,  is  the  more  important,  because, 
to  use  the  language  of  Judge  Story, — "  in  our  country,  the 
highest  man  is  not  above  the  people  ;  the  humblest  is  not  below 
the  people.  If  the  rich  may  be  said  to  have  additional  protec- 
tion, they  have  not  additional  power,  nor  does  wealth  here 
form  a  paramount  distinction  of  families.  Those  who  are 
wealthy  to-day,  pass  to  the  tomb,  and  their  children  divide 
their  estates.  Property  thus  is  divided  quite  as  fast  as  it  accu- 
mulates. No  family  can  without  its  own  exertions,  stand  erect 
for  a  long  time,  under  our  statute  of  descents  and  distributions. 
It  silently  and  quietly  dissolves  the  mass  heaped  up  by  the  toil 
and  diligence  of  a  long  life  of  enterprise  and  industry. 


[       15  J 


Property  is  continually  changing  like  the  waves  of  the  sea — 
one  wave  rises,  and  is  soon  swallowed  up  in  the  vast  abyss, 
and  seen  no  more.  Another  rises,  and  having  reached  its 
destined  limits,  fall  gently  away,  and  is  succeeded  by  yet 
another,  which  in  its  turn,  breaks  and  dies  gently  on  the  shore. 
The  richest  man  amongst  us  may  be  brought  down  to  the 
humblest  level  ;  and  the  child,  with  scarcely  clothes  to  cover 
his  nakedness,  may  rise  to  the  highest  office  in  our  govern- 
ment ;  and  the  poor  man,  while  he  rocks  his  infant  on  his 
knees,  may  justly  indulge  the  consolation,  that  if  he  possesses 
talents  and  virtue,  there  is  no  office  beyond  the  reach  of  his 
honorable  ambition." 

Of  how  much  importance  therefore  are  all  Institutions  which 
propose  qualifying  mankind,  for  any  situation  or  any  office 
which  they  may  be  called  to  fill,  in  a  couutry  where  they  are 
excluded  from  none,  even  the  highest  ?  Can  any  reasonable 
degree  of  exertion  for  the  support  of  such  Institutions,  be 
esteemed  too  great  a  burden  ?  Certainly  not  by  those  who 
place  a  proper  estimate  on  the  value  of  knowledge. 

In  taking  this  view  of  the  subject,  and  in  hazarding  those 
anticipations  of  the  future  which  we  have,  we  think  we  have 
been  careful  not  to  indulge  in  exaggerated  estimates.  We 
have,  it  is  true,  some  difficulties  to  surmount ;  but  a  Franklin, 
a  Rittenhouse,  and  a  host  of  others,  the  master  spirits  of  the 
land  bid  us  follow  on,  and  assure  us  by  their  examples  that  in 
perseverance  we  shall  find  success. 


When  you  leave,  please  leave  this  hook 

Because  it  has  heen  said 
"Ever  thing  comes  t'  him  who  waits 

Except  a  loaned  book." 


AVKRY  ARC'HITFXTURAL  AND  FINE  ARTS  LIBRARY 
(  hi  i  <  ii  Si  y\k  »i  r  H.  I)i  rsi  Oi  n  York  Library 


